Inline Tube - 1970 Cutlass W-31 Restoration - Finished car

This W-31 project was started Jan 15 2008 and completed July 15 2008 with 2500 hours spent from start to completion. This restoration started with a low mile w-31 that has only undergone an engine upgrade. This car retains all its original sheet metal and the interior was also reused.

This car features an Oldsmobile experimental all aluminum 350 CID engine that was manufactured by the Winters foundry for Oldsmobile experimental research. Oldsmobile was experimenting with new aluminum technology with the creation of aluminum engine parts similar to the famous Camaro ZL1 aluminum engines. It never made it into full blown production before the economy changed and the plug was pulled. All parts were ordered to be destroyed but some slipped through the cracks. This is one of the original engines. The engines were featured in Hot Rod Magazine on the cover of the July 1969 issue. This is the only known complete Aluminum Olds 350 engine to exist.

The engine: At one time in the late 60’s Oldsmobile as all the other manufactures were experimenting with new technology that would sooner or later make it into the cars we drive today. Most of these experiments or concepts were not available to the public and that is what makes them so saut after today. This engine was found and with a few phone calls and a quick road trip to Lansing Mi. a deal was struck. Oldsmobile had a back door and these experiential engine pieces made it into garages all over Michigan. It was even said in Dale Smiths book that at random cars and trunks were checked for these types of parts while entire cars were driven past the gates. We had found the NOS engine block, cylinder heads, intake, water pump and divider plates and decided we had enough to make a running engine. We had to have pistons, rods and a crank made. The cam is the stock w-31 version. The exhaust manifolds are one off made for this project to eliminate the crossover pipe to have a true dual exhaust. To preserve the aluminum engine and heads no machining was done to these stock components. Pistons and rods were made to achieve 11:1 compression.

Oldsmobile development was no secret the engineers and racers built only what we could of dreamed of as the general public. These experimental engines were tested and used in race applications. It was reported in Hot Rod that one of the alum engines ran a top speed of 166.133mph in a cutlass and another was the power source for the Cro-Sal Can Am car and others were developed for high-rpm operating ranges for boat racing and land speed records. (July 1969 Hot Rod Page 59). Another was used for a Pikes Peak hill climb in a tornado but expired before its time. The baja off road endurance race (Ensinada to La Paz) claimed another one of these engines that was transplanted into a 70 cutlass. The actor James Gardner drove the race prepared Cutlass powered with an aluminum 350 race engine Jim did a great job in the race but within the last 100 miles the engine was using oil that could not be added and resulted in a poor finish. Many of the works in progress were displayed in the July 1969 issue of Hot Rod that were being developed for can am racing.

We approached the project as a “what if" this was put into a W-31 as the ultimate junior super car. The engineers would put the best in performance while leaving luxury aside. This meant using the best performance pieces that olds had to offer. The ultimate car would be a base model bench seat, 4speed with no need for AC or a radio but the ralley gauges and tach would preview any engine problem. The hood lock would keep the secret safe and the legendary trumpet tips surrounded by the cut out bumper would resonate the rumble of the true performance exhaust. Aluminum Engine 4 speed there is only one rear end that comes to mind; aluminum housed 3:91 Gear W-27. Due to the engines high rise intake manifold and experimental makings, the factory W-31 air cleaner base would not clear the hood. Tornado engines had a very deep base that would solve all hood clearance Issues. As aluminum is what makes up most of the engine the color is matched on the valve covers and oil pan. This car displays standard W-31 paint scheme with color matched wheels to the stripes.

As the owners of Inline Tube, the brake and fuel line company, we are part of the muscle car hobby every day taking and filling orders for the muscle cars we all know. When a special project comes along that separates a car from the pack we want to be involved. We have provided parts to all the top restoration shops in the country and make new products every day to help restorations reach a new height of detail. To own and restore a piece of history and to be a part of it is what drives us to make new detail items to build an award winning cars. .

The W-31 Performance package could be ordered on the Cutlass-S or F-85, It was considered the high performance 350CID Junior Super car while the big brother was the 442 that came standard with a 455 and the king of the Oldsmobile line up was the W-30 with 370 HP, a few more horse power than the 365 H.P. 442. The w-31 package added a few horses and a sport look at a low cost as an answer to rising insurance premiums of the day.

W-31 Appearance upgrades of Dual-Intake force-air fiberglass hood, Sport mirrors, and Paint striping on sides and hood of car. The engine was boosted to 325 hp Rocket 350 with 4bbl carb and dual straight through mufflers and exhaust. To stop the super car manual disc brakes were standard under the 14x7 wheels that road on Wide oval Belted raised white letter tires. The suspension upgrades included heavy duty front and rear sway bars and shocks.

These cars could have been ordered with many of the same options as the 442’s including AM/FM Radios bucket seats, consoles, 4 speed trans missions, ralley gauges, aluminum rear axle housings, and a variety of wheel options. In 1970 The Cutlass & F-85’s total production was 111,578 from this total 1352 were W-31’s which accounts for a bit more that 1 percent of the market share. Performance was a high priced low production part of the market.

The interior is as basic as can be with bench seat, radio delete, basic steering wheel and 4 speed shifter. Oldsmobile development was no secret the engineers and racers built only what we could of dreamed of as the general public. These experimental engines were tested and used in race applications. It was reported in Hot Rod that one of the alum engines ran a top speed of 166.133mph in a cutlass and another was the power source for the Cro-Sal Can Am car and others were developed for high-rpm operating ranges for boat racing and land speed records. (July 1969 Hot Rod Page 59). Another was used for a Pikes Peak hill climb in a tornado but expired before its time. The baja off road endurance race (Ensinada to La Paz) claimed another one of these engines that was transplanted into a 70 cutlass. The actor James Gardner drove the race prepared Cutlass powered with an aluminum 350 race engine Jim did a great job in the race but within the last 100 miles the engine was using oil that could not be added and resulted in a poor finish. Many of the works in progress were displayed in the July 1969 issue of Hot Rod that were being developed for can am racing.

The engine compartment is open and simple with manual disc brakes and NO ac. The experiential engine is painted with a silver color to match the aluminum material of the block heads and intake. This engine was completely rebuilt and on the dyno produced 415 HP at 5300 RPM and 455 LBS of torque @ 3900 RPM. The engine block weighs 68 Lbs and the cylinder heads are 22 Lbs each for a huge weight savings. The dyno numbers are consistent with other high performance olds engines that are known for high torque at low rpm ranges.

The finished trunk has the correct grey green trunk matt and features the correct trunk spatter paint with the correct size and shape aqua spatter. The trunk is displayed with the dealer brochures and Oldsmobile experiential engine magazine articles.

This is the Oldsmobile Nationals 08 in Dearborn Michigan. Inline tube displayed 4 W-machines, The bronze car is a low mile one of 19, 1972 F-85 442's with the W-30 Package. The green 1970 W-31 is the fastest pure stock 350 Cid Oldsmobile. The white W-31 has the only all aluminum Oldsmobile 350 engine known to exist. The Viking Blue 1972 W-32 is one of the lowest mile all original W-30's to exist with 23,000 miles. All cars received a first place for being over 950 points and higher.

We could not have completed the project without the help of the following people:

Sources:

Inlinetube - Brake & Fuel Lines, Parking Brake Cables, Hoses, Valves, Brake & Fuel Clips, Disc Brakes
Sub Assembly details/ Final Assembly – James & John Kryta from Inline Tube

15066 Technology Drive
Shelby Twp, MI 48315
586 532 1338

www.Inlinetube.com

Wings Auto Art - Body, Paint, Assembly
Restoration: www.wingsautoart.com – Nyle Wing – Bill – Adam – Derich

Nyle Wing
Ionia, Michigan 48846
PH (989) 855-2577

www.wingsautoart.com

Engine Build: Gary Rubrich

Engine Dyno / Tune: Dan Jensen

Sources –for more reading on Oldsmobile experiential engines

1969 Hot Rod Magazine July Issue Page 59-62

1993 Collectible Automobile Magazine June Issue Page 69

1970 Oldsmobile Sales Brochure back inside cover engine specs

2004 Racing to the past - Book by Dale Smith Page 53

1970 Popular Hot Rodding March Issue Cover Car – 70 Cutlass with all Aluminum 350